EFCC has commenced an investigation into the adoption of children from the state orphanage home. This was confirmed by The Kaduna State Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hafsat Baba.
Mrs Baba told the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna on Wednesday that the investigation followed a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by some individuals.
She said that in spite of the investigation, the government orphanage is still functional and giving out children for adoption.
“But at the moment, some people went to report to EFCC, calling for an investigation into revenue generation from adoption.
“If you say we are generating revenue, are we selling these children?
According to her, when the government was setting up the adoption committee, a letter was sent to the EFCC in July 2021 to nominate someone to represent it on the committee, but it did not respond or send anyone.
Mrs Baba said the adoption committee consists of officials from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, ministry of justice, social workers, and representatives of the association of orphanages in the state, among others.
“They are not hiding anything regarding child adoption while the bank account is also available,” she added.
The commissioner said only a token was being charged for the adoption forms, adding that whatever was generated went mostly to payment of the nannies in the orphanage.
“There are over 30 children at the moment who are being taken care of. People are contributing to take care of the children because they have nowhere to go.
“We run an open government, anybody can come and investigate,” Mrs Baba said.
NAN